Smash Bros. Unveils Origin of

Celebrating 25 years since its debut, the Nintendo crossover fighting game, Super Smash Bros., finally has its official naming story, revealed by creator Masahiro Sakurai.

Masahiro Sakurai Unveils the "Smash Bros." Story

Satoru Iwata's Influence on the Name

Super Smash Bros., Nintendo's iconic crossover fighting game, features characters from a wide array of the company's franchises. Interestingly, despite the name, few characters are actually brothers. So, why "Super Smash Bros."? While previously unexplained, Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai recently offered the definitive answer.

In a recent YouTube video, Sakurai explained that the name reflects the game's core concept: "friends settling minor disagreements." He credits the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo president, with a key role in shaping the name.

Sakurai recounted brainstorming sessions with various team members, including Mother/Earthbound creator Shigesato Itoi, to finalize the title. "Mr. Iwata selected the 'brothers' element," Sakurai revealed. "His reasoning was that, while the characters weren't literally brothers, the term conveyed a sense of friendly rivalry, suggesting they were resolving disputes rather than engaging in outright combat."

Beyond the naming, Sakurai shared personal anecdotes about his relationship with Iwata, including Iwata's direct involvement in programming the Super Smash Bros. prototype, originally titled "Dragon King: The Fighting Game," for the Nintendo 64.